During an emotional ceremony on Sunday evening, the Italian president delivered a speech in memory of the thousands of victims of the pandemic in the region.
Images of dozens of coffins gathered in churches and the macabre procession of military trucks carrying them circumnavigated the world in March
KEYSTONE
Italian President Sergio Mattarella paid tribute on Sunday evening to the dead of the new coronavirus in the martyr province of Bergamo (north). He spoke of “indelible scars” for the country.
“Here in Bergamo this evening, Italy suffered, was injured, and cried. And who, while wanting to resume the rhythm of life, knows that she cannot forget what happened, “said Mattarella.
The new coronavirus has killed more than 6,000 people in the province of Bergamo. The images of dozens of coffins collected in the church in the city cemetery and the macabre procession of military trucks transporting them went around the world in March, testifying to the drama experienced by this province.
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Impossible funeral
During the health crisis, due to confinement measures, the deceased were not entitled to a funeral. To pay tribute to the victims, a ceremony was organized on Sunday evening in the monumental cemetery of the city, in the presence of the Head of State and the 324 mayors of the affected communes, who all wore a mask and the tricolor scarf.
Too many to guarantee physical distance, relatives of the victims could not be invited, but members of the choir were also affected by the tragedy. A minute of silence was observed. Then Mr. Mattarella laid a wreath at the foot of the funeral monument, while a young volunteer read poetry.
“Lives torn off”
“The epidemic has changed our lives, leaving indelible scars that have changed our priorities,” said the Italian head of state. “Lives torn away, often without a last hug, without a last goodbye (…) all, we keep images impossible to forget”.
“To remember means to reflect seriously (…) on what did not work, the deficiencies of the system”, but also to remember the positive, “the extraordinary availability and humanity” of the medical personnel or the forces of the order, he said.
The Requiem by the Bergamo composer Gaetano Donizetti was then performed by the choir and orchestra of the Donizetti opera festival in Bergamo.
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No “unnecessary revenge”
Relatives of victims filed fifty complaints on June 10 with the Bergamo Public Prosecutor’s Office to seek justice and denounce dysfunctions.
“I hope that the governor (of the Lombardy region, Attilio Fontana) will take this opportunity to listen to the pain of Bergamo, and that, in front of the monumental cemetery, which was the symbol of a massacre, he will publicly ask for forgiveness from the citizens “Said Luca Fusco, spokesperson for the committee” We will denounce – Truth and justice for the victims of Covid-19 “.
Fontana replied that “the only killer was this cursed virus”, adding that “peace will not be found by stoking unnecessary revenge”. The epidemic has killed more than 34,000 people in Italy, the first country in Europe to have been affected and where it now seems to be largely under control.
(ATS / NXP)
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